Regeneration of spent catalysts in oxy-combustion atmosphere

The feasibility of adopting an oxy-combustion stage to regenerate a spent catalyst proposed for methane thermo-catalytic decomposition has been investigated in a laboratory scale bubbling fluidized bed reactor operated at 800 °C and different inlet oxygen concentrations. The efficiency of carbon oxy-combustion regeneration strategy has been evaluated on the basis of the efficiency of carbon removed from the catalyst and the performance of regenerated catalyst. The effect of multiple cycles of decomposition and regeneration steps has been also quantified. Experimental activity confirmed the possibility of producing a CO2 stream that can be finalized to a sequestration unit but also indicated the requirement of a good temperature control of catalytic particles.